Apparatus for handling book borrowing transactions



March 14, 1%? v A. BRODY 3,399,255

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING BOOK BORROWING TRANSACTIONS Original Filed June21, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet l Bo ower Due date mf mation INVENTOR: Hen/wefileoby A. BRODY March 14, 1967 APPARATUS FOR HANDLING BOOK BORROWINGTRANSACTIONS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed June 21, 1961 A. BRODYMarch M, 1967 APPARATUS FOR HANDLING BOOK BORROWING TRANSACTIONS 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed June 21, 1961 w v 15mm R ARTHUR B Row BY JA. BRODY 3,309,255

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING BOOK BORROWING TRANSACTIONS March M, 1967Original Filed June 21, 1961 74 l Two i aorrcwe r I ggatgps ilnForna'mhcn 73 a INVENTOR: zQ/FTHU B/ma 3 V W WW 4 m M ZSOJ Card March14, 1967 A. BRODY 3,3

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING BOOK BORROWING TRANSACTIONS Original Filed June21, 1961 5 Sheets-Shet 5 I KNOB 'vncno" Knob Card Motor I mlcro micromicro INVENTOR. I flaw/we .Bffoby United States Patent 0 3,399,255APZARATUS FOR HANDLING BOOK BORROWING TRANfiACTiGNS Arthur Brody, .65Melrose Place, South Orange, NJ. 07079 Original application June 21,1961, Ser. No. 118,573, now Patent No. 3,135,641, dated June 2, 1964.Divided and this application Mar. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 350,715

11 Claims. (l. 156-386) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLQSURE A book chargingdevice for libraries for applying a strip of adhesive tape to each bookcard, the tape having printed thereon borrower information and due date.Continuous web of tape fed to a printing head which temporarily holds aborrower card, and carries a dating device and cutting blade. Movementof printing head, upon insertion of the book car-d beneath it, cutsstrip from web, prints strip, and applies strip to book card, web beingadvanced during each return stroke of head.

This invention relates generally to library-book charging systems, andhas particular reference to improvements in the apparatus commonlyemployed in libraries to record and control book borrowing transactions.This application is a division of co-pending application, Ser. No.118,573, filed June 21, 1961, now US. Patent No. 3,135,641.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a simple andpractical apparatus for handling such transactions in a manner whichobviates many of the shortcomings of conventional systems, and affordsnumerous advantages not heretofore readily attainable.

In the known and widely-practiced book card system, there is a card foreach book, bearing its title. its class or index number, and similarinformation. When a book is borrowed, a notation is made upon the cardto identify the borrower, and the card is then placed in a books due lein an appropriate group depending upon the date when the book isscheduled to be returned. The disadvantages of this system include thefollowing, among others:

(1) There is a limit to the number of notations that can be made on abook card, and in course of time it becomes consumed and must bereplaced. This involves extra time and additional cost.

(2) It is often embarrassing to patrons, and undesirable for otherreasons as well, to have a book card retain information on itafter thebook has been returned-as to the identity of any person who haspreviously borrowed the book. This has often been avoided by assigning anumber or similar impersonal identification to each patron but thisrequires costly and time-consuming maintenance of an additionalregistration file to correlate patrons names with their respectivenumbers.

(3) The library is unable to ascertain, at any particular time, whatbooks are out and who has them (which is often of vital importance)without a tedious and impracticable search through all cards in thebooks due file. This has been avoided only by having an additional bookcard for each book and retaining it alphabetically or in othersequential arrangement in a separate master file, all of which is,again, costly and time-consuming, and involves additional procedures atbook-charging and book-returning times.

(4) To remind the borrower, a separate date due" card is required,bearing the rate when the book is returnable, which is inserted intoeach book it is borrowed.

It is a general object of this invention to provide equip Patented Mar.14, 1967 ment for accomplishing all the desirable purposes of abook-charging operation without requiring frequent replacements of bookcards, without requiring more than one book card for each book, withoutleaving undesired borrower information on the card after a book has beenreturned, without requiring any separate registration file, and .withoutrequiring separately provided date due" cards. Additionally, it is anobjective of the invention to provide an apparatus by means of which thelibrary is enabled at all times, and by means of only a single cardfile, to ascertain readily which particular books are out, who has them,and which are overdue.

The objectives of the invention include, also, the provision ofapparatus which is wholly practical and economical, and by means ofwhich the book-charging and book-returning procedures, and thedelinquency procedures relating to overdue books, are greatly simplifiedand expedited.

The invention is predicated upon the customary provision of a book cardfor each book, and a borrower card for each patron, bearing his name andaddress and possibly other relevant data. The improved apparatusinvolves the provision, for each transaction, of a special label-likeband or strip which bears the borrower information and a due-datedesignation, and which is secured to the book card in a special manner,readily removable at a later date without impairment of the book card.The

information-bearing element also comprises a second due-date designationon an area which is readily severable from the body of the strip at thetime of the borrowing and applicable, as a reminder, to the book itselfin a manner which makes it readily removable at a later date withoutimpairment of the book. A feature of the invention, contributingmaterially to its usefulness and efficiency, resides in performing, allat one time, the steps of imprinting borrower information on one sectionof a strip of suitable material, imprinting due-date designations on twoother sections thereof, and securing the body of the strip to the bookcard in a predetermined significant location.

In accordance with this general procedure, book cards appertaining toborrowed books can be accumulated in a single file, each bearingdirectly on its face a temporary label on which is shown relevant dataas to the borrowers identity and when the book is due to be returned.Preferably the label will have been so applied that a section of itprojects laterally beyond the edge of the card. This section is thesecond of the two sections bearing due-date designations (the other onehaving been torn off and secured to the book itself). The projectingsection is a tab or flag by means of which the book card can be readilyidentified in terms of its due-date. This beneficial result becomesespecially manifest when tabs bearing one due-date are applied to theirrespective cards at one location along the side edge, while othersbearing other due-dates are located at correspondingly differentpositions. Of course, if desired, the information-bearing strip may beso applied that no projection occurs. In such a case, not all theadvantages of the invention will be attained, although in numerousrespects the disadvantages of conventional systems will be avoided.

Preferably, the imprinted strip is an end segment of a continuous supplyin the form of a tape, and the severance of this segment or band fromthe supply tape is automatically accomplished as part of thesimultaneous performance of steps previously described.

Preferably the material of which the information-bearing strips is madehas an obverse face readily receptive to permanent imprints, and areverse face coated at least in part with a pressure-sensitive adhesiveof non-aggressive nature. In this way, the area to 'be imprinted may beinterposed between a printing head and a platen with its obverse facedirected toward the printing head; whereupon by causing relativemovement toward each other of the printing head and platen the strip maybe printed on its obverse face and simultaneously pressed into adhesivecontact with a book card properly positioned beneath it. Where acontinuous length of such material is employed as a supply source, it isadvantageous to provide it in advance with a longitudinal line ofWeakness, facilitating the separation, after the printing operation, ofthe due-date section intended to be applied to the book itself. Also, itis preferable, in preparing the continuous supply tape, to leaveselected longitudinal areas uncoated with adhesive for purposeshereinafter to be pointed out.

The imprinting of the desired information on the strip can be achievedby the use of a simple inked ribbon, or equivalent means, interposedbetween the strip to be printed and suitable embossings or printingelements on the printing head. It is contemplated that the latter willafford means for temporarily accommodating a borrower card on which thedesired borrower information is provided by an appropriate embossmcnt.

An objective of the invention is to provide a compact unobtrusivereadily-usable apparatus (portable, if desired) by means of which thebook-charging system can be carried out in a practical manner. Inaddition to a printing head and platen of the character described, theapparatus will preferably include a dating mechanism, tape advancing andcutting means, and drive means for actuating the mechanisms inpredetermined timed relation. The apparatus is primarily designed forelectrical actuation and includes special devices to insure properoperation and to guard against incorrect or undesirable results. A meansis also provided to allow for manual operation in the event of failureof electric power.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide an improved meansfor spotting or otherwise marking the book card in a special mannerduring each charging operation, to record the circumstances that thebook had been selected by a borrower and to impart cumulativeinformation as to the timing and duration of demand for that particularbook.

Other features of the invention relate to the provision of means forguiding the book card into various selected dispositions beneath theprinted strip to be applied to it, means for allowing electricaloperation to occur only when the book card is properly located, meansfor allowing adjustment of dating mechanism on the printing head toimprint a selected one of several due-date designations, and means forpreventing electrical operation without preliminary manual setting ofthe dating mechanism.

In general, the objective is to provide an apparatus which isstructurally simple and relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy tooperate, and reliable in fulfilling its functions in the contemplatedmanner over long periods of use.

A preferred way of achieving these general objectives is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a face view of a book cardshowing one way in which the information-bearing band may be applied;

FIG. 2 is a similar view showing an alternative mode of application;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a continuous supply tapefrom which the bands may be cut;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an apparatus embodying the features of theinvention;

FIG. 5 is an end view along the line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an end view from the other side, as indicated at 6-6 in FIG.4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged front view, along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6, withparts of the printing head broken away;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary bottom view along the direction 88 of FIG. 7 toreveal the underside of the printing .head;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary View, in the same direction as FIG. 5, showingthe driving motor and linkage in its FIG. 9, immediately aftercommencement of a driving c cle;

FIG. 11 is a detail view of the printing head shaft and the eccentricmounted thereon;

FIG. 12 is a detail view of one of the driving connec tions, along theline 12-l2 of FIG. 7;

FIGS. 13-15 are views similar to FIG. 12 showing successive positions ofthe parts;

FIG. 16 is an exploded view of the holder for the borrower card, as seenfrom its printing side;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section on the line 17-47 ofFIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is an exaggerated fragmentary cross-section substantially alongthe line I818 of FIG. 4, showing the switch controlled by the book card;

FIG. 19 is an exaggerated fragmentary cross-section substantially alongthe line 19-19 of FIG. 6, showing the switch controlled by the datingmechanism knob;

FIG. 20 is an end View of the dating mechanism, in the direction 26-20of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a detail view along the line 21--21 of FIG. 19;

FIG. 22 is a detail view along the line 2222 of FIG. 19;

FIG. 23 is an exaggerated cross-section in the direction of FIG. 6,showing the tape feed and cutting means and the printing head in araised position;

FIG. 24 is a .view similar to FIG. 23 showing the mode of operation whenthe printing head and cutter descend; and

FIG. 25 is a diagram of an illustrative electric circuit.

In the apparatus herein chosen for illustration a table is supported onlegs 31 and is provided with spaced upstanding supporting walls 32, 3'3,34 extending from front to back. A driving motor 35 is supported beneaththe table and by means of a linkage machanism it oscillates drive shaft36, journaled between walls 32 and 33. Through gears 37, 38 and sprocketchain 39 (PEG. 5) a similar back-and-forth rotation is imparted to theshaft 41; journaled bet-ween walls 33 and 34. Shaft 40 carries aneccentric 41 (FIG. 11) which is encircled by the follower strap 42pivotally anchored at 43 to the printing head 44 (FIGS. 4, 6, 7). As theshaft 40 oscillates, the printing head moves from a normally elevatedposition (FIG. 23) to a lowered printing position (FIG. 24) and backagain. The upper surface of the table 30 beneath the printing headserves as a platen.

Mounted in the space between walls 33 and 34, behind the printing head44, is a supply roll Ell of sheet material 51 (iFiG. 3). This continuoustape is advanced forwardly in increments toward the printing head 4 3,as indicated by the arrow 52 of FIG. 23, by intermittent actuation ofthe rubber-coated tape feeding roller 53-. This roller coacts withknurled idle-r rollers 54 journaled in a plate 55 whose forward upperedge 56 (FIGS. 23, 24) is a shearing edge. A cutter 57 is secured to therear face of the printing head 44 and is provided with a shearing edge58 (preferably angled upward toward the center to define a shallowinverted V). As the printing head 44 descends, theshearing edge 53cooperates with the fixed shearing edge 51; and severs a transverse band59 from the end of the tape 51.

Referring to FIG. 3, the tape 51 (which may be, for example, about 3 or4 inches in width) is composed of a sheet material having an obverseface 60 receptive to permanent printing impressions, and a reverse facebearing longitudinal areas 61 and 62 of pressure-sensitive adhesive.Parallel to one edge of the tape material it is formed with a line ofweakness such as the pcrforations 6-3. The section between the edge andthe adjacent perforated line 63 may be about /4 of an inch wide; theadhesive layer 6 1 beneath it is slightly less in width, thus leaving anarrow uncoated area 64. A scotion on the opposite side of the line 63,having a width of about an inch or slightly less, is similarly leftuncoated on its underside, as indicated at 65.

Whenever the tape is advanced by the roller 53 (during the time theprinting head 44 and cutter 57 are in raised position) it brings thenext potential band 59 into a position beneath the printing head. Thisband may be approximately /8 of an inch wide. Prior to the descent ofthe printing head, a book card 70 will have been moved into position asbest indicated in FIG. 18. Its leading edge encounters and moves thefinger 7-1 of a micro-switch 72 from the full-line to the dottedlineposition, thus closing the switch (hereinafter referred to as the cardmicro). Then the printing head descends and imprints borrowerinformation on the area between lines 73 and 74 of FIG. 18, and aduplicate set of due-date designations in the area between the lines 74and 75. At the same time, the band 59 is severed from the supply rolland passed into adhesive engagement with the book card 70.

As illustrative result is shown in FIG. 1. It is to be noted that thebody of the band 59, bearing the borrower information, lies directlyover the card 70 at a distance a from the lower edge. Projecting beyondthe lateral edge of the card are two sections 80 and 81 on oppositesides of the weakness line 63. The outer section 89 can be torn off andadhesively applied to the book to which the book card 70 pertains. Theinner section 8'1 (uncoated with adhesive) projects as a tab or flagfrom the side edge of the card 70. Each of the sections 80 and 81 bearsdue-date information. Thus all books due on a given day or in a givenweek can be represented in the master card file by book cards havingflags 81 at an elevation a. By locating the applied strips 59 at otherpositions (e.g., at the elevation designated b) cards can be similarlyear-marked as a group. Book cards are customarily of a size which allowsthe bands 59 to be placed at any of at least four clearlydistinguishable locations. The place at which the band is attached isselectively determined by adjustable card guides 83 and 84 projectingfrom the edge of the platen 36, as best shown in FIG. 4. 'Each of theguides may be shifted in a direction toward or away from the other, andeither may be employed in any given case, i.e., the top edge of the bookcard 70 may be held against the guide 83, or the lower edge may be heldagainst the guide 84, during the inward sliding of the card as indicatedin FIG. 18.

In case it is undesirable to end up with a book card bearing a lateralprojection, an appropriately narrower supply tape 51 may be employed,and the spool guide 45 (FIG. 4) shifted slightly to the right. At thesame time, the dating mechanism 110 (FIG. 7) would be similarly shifted.The result would be that the band 59a (narrower than 5-9) would beapplied to the card as shown in FIG. 2, whereby upon removal of theouter section 80 (for application to the book) there would be noprojecting tab. The details of the adjustments to the apparatus neededto accomplish these results have not been illustrated, since it iscontemplated that the choice of whether the band 59 is to be applied asshown in FIG. 1, or the band 59a applied as shown in FIG. 2, will dependin any given case .upon the wishes of the library. Accordingly suchadjustments would be made only at the time of installation of theapparatus.

The absence of adhesive from the areas 6 5 and 65 (FIG. 3) definesfinger-grip areas whereby it is easier to remove the section 80 from thebook, and the body of the strip from the book card, when the book isreturned. Also, the section 81, if allowed to project as in FIG. 1, isfree of tackiness that might interfere with the handling and grouping ofthe book cards.

The manner in which the tape supply is advanced intermittently isdepicted in FIGS. 5, 7 and 12-15. The shaft 46. driven by the motor 35carries a crank 47 articulated through connecting rod 48 to the lowerend of arm 49, the upper end being secured to drive shaft 36. As theshaft 46 rotates through a single revolution the shaft 3-6 is oscillatedthrough an arc, and by means of the gears 37, 38 an oscillation (ofapproximately 90) is imparted to the shaft 66 on which the gear 38 ismounted. The shaft 66 extends for only part of the distance betweensupporting walls 32 and 33 and is aligned with a shaft 67 journaled inwall 33 (FIG. 4). The shaft 66 carries a driving cam 68 having a fiatcam face 69 that cooperates with a driven cam follower pin 76 associatedwith the shaft 67. The pin 76 projects in an eccentric disposition fromthe end face of a one-way clutch mechanism 77. This mechanism is ofknown character and its internal structure has not been shown. It isadapted to impart movement to the shaft 67 only when the pin 76 is movedfrom the full-line position of FIG. 12 to the dotted position shown inthe same figure; it transmits no torque to the shaft 67 during itsreturn movement.

As will be noted from FIGS. 12-14, the cam 68 through part of itsmovement (counter-clockwise in these views) does not actuate the pin 76at all; but as it completes its swing between the positions shown inFIGS. 14 and 15 it moves the pin 76, and hence the shaft 67, through anarc of travel. The shaft 6'7 carries a gear 90 which meshes with anddrives gear 91 on an adjacent shaft. Gear 92 on the latter shaft drivesgear 93 on the shaft 84 of the feed roller 53.

Thus, during the advance stroke of arm 49 (from left to right as viewedin FIGS. 5 and 9) the cam 68 moves from the position of FIG. 15 to thatof FIG. 12 without effecting any movement of the tape-feed roller 53.During this advance stroke, however, the printing head is moved downthrough the driving connection afforded by the chain 39. On the returnstroke of arm 49, the printing head rises again, and during the latterpart of the return stroke the cam 68 moves from the position of FIG. 14to that of FIG. 15 and thus imparts movement to the tape-feed roller 53.The parts are so dimensioned that a desired increment of tape (about Aof an inch, for example) is advanced to the overhanging position shownin FIG. 23, in readiness for the succeeding descent of the printing headand tape cutter.

The delay in actuating the tape feed roller 53 during the return strokeof the operating cycle allows the printing head and cutter to rise wellout ofthe way of the advancing end of the tape supply.

The lower end of the printing head will now be described, withparticular reference to FIGS. 8, 16 and 17, relating to the borrowercard holder and the book card spotter, and FIGS. 7, 8, and 19-22,relating to the dating mechanism.

A borrower card and holder, as viewed from underneath, are shown in FIG.16. The borrower card 78 is provided with an appropriate embossmenrt orprinting area 79 adjacent to one end. The holder into which it may befreely inserted and removed, in endwise direction as indicated by thearrows, is secured to the under face of the printing head 4-4 in anysuitable manner. It consists essentially of a pair of opposed parallelcard guides and a narrow connecting web 86 extending between the outerends of these guides. Projecting rearwardly from this web is a springylaterally-unsupported plate 87. The rear edge 88 of this plate is spacedfrom the rear or inner ends of the guides 85, thus leaving a spacethrough which the embossment 79 or the card 78 will 'be exposed, inprinting position, after the card 78 has been fully inserted (FIG. 8).The card holder is secured to the lower face of the printing head withthe inner ends of the guides 85 adjacent to the front face of the cutter57 (see FIG. 8). Accordingly the insertion of the card 7 8 into theholder is limited by the fact that the leading edge of the cardencounters the front face of the cutter 57. This brings the printingarea of the card into proper disposition.

Pivotally secured at 96 to the outer face of web 86 is a flat finger 97whose blunt outer end 98 is accessible for manual adjustment of thefinger. At its inner end the finger terminates in an attenuated printingpart 99 (FIG. 17) adapted to imprint a dot or similar small spot uponthe book card 70 when the printing head 44 descends. The inner end ofthe finger 97 has a raised nub on its inside face, adapted to snap intoand out of a succession of detent depressions 100 in the plate 87. Forany selected duration of time (probably measured in terms of weeks) thefinger 97 can be set in a selected position, then shifted to another fora similar period. The number of spots on a book card can thus become anindication of the extent of use of the book to which it relates. Sincethe book card position is itself shifted longitudinally from time totime, depending upon the height at which the imprinted strip is placed(FIG. 1), the spotting mechanism is capable of providing a multiplicityof significant markings on any one card.

The dating mechanism is secured to the printing head by screws 105 whichmay be set as shown in FIG. 7 or shifted (at the time of manufacture orinstallation) to the dotted positions 1136. The fasteners 105 extendthrough a plate 107 in which a spindle 108 is rotatably mounted (FIGS.19 and 22). On its inner end, the spindle 108 carries a polygonal,preferably square, printing head hearing dates or equivalent due-datedesignations 109 on its faces. Each face bears a different indication,and it is in duplicate since a pair of due-date markings are imprinted(on the sections and 81 respectively) during each printing operation.The setting of the dater to proper position is manually controlled bythe knob 110 on the outer end of the spindle 108. This knob is securedto the spindle in a non-rotatable but axially shiftable manner. Forexample, the knob may be hollow and the spindle 108 may be non-circularwhere it passes through the rear well of the knob (FIG. 21). Within thehollow of the knob an enlargement 111 on the spindle end limits theshifting of the knob between the positions shown in FIGS. 19 and 22.

Mounted on the plate 107 is a micro-switch 112 (hereinafter designatedthe knob micro) whose switch finger 113 is spring-biased into thefull-lin position of FIG. 19, in which condition the switch is open.This finger is interposed between the knob 110 and the plate 1&7 and theelectrical operation of the apparatus cannot take place unless the knob110 is manually pushed into the switchclosing position shOWn in FIG. 22.It is contemplated that the librarian will be reminded, by thisnecessary handling of the knob 119, that for each transaction the datingmechanism must be set in a particular manner (not necessarily like itsprevious setting) depending upon the duedate designation to be employedin that particular case.

A cam 101, fixedly secured to the platen 30 (FIG. 22)

estores the knob 110 to its outer position automatically as the printinghead descends. Thus the knob must be manipulated prior to each printingoperation.

The impressions made by the borrower card indicia 79 and the dating headareas 109 upon the strip 59 beneath the printing head 44 as the latterdescends are produced by interposing an inked ribbon 82. This ribbonforms part of a unit of known kind, generally indicated at 89 in FIG. 7,which includes reels 95 upon which the opposite'ends of the ribbon 82are wound. Auto matic ribbon-advancing means (not shown) is alsoincluded. The unit 89 is secured to the printing head in any convenientway, as by fasteners 12%.

Before describing the electric control circuit, reference is directed toFIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 9 depicts the motordriven shaft 4-6 and relatedlinkage in its rest position. (This position is shown as being midwaythrough the advance stroke of the arm 49, but this is not essential.) Inthe rest position, a rounded actuator 102 carried by the shaft 46 (orcrank 47) bears against the movable part 103 of a micro-switch 104(hereinafter referred to as the motor micro) to maintain the switch inopen condition. As soon as the motor is set into motion the actuator Hi2releases the part 103 and the switch 164 closes. It remains closed untilthe part 102 has completed one revolution, at which time the switch isre-open. The significance of this will become apparent from aconsideration of the electric circuit shown in FIG. 25.

In FIG. 25, the parts to which reference numerals have already beenapplied are shown bearing the same designations. The other parts of thecircuit (which is shown deenergized) are a source of power 114 (ordinaryIIO-volt alternating current will do); a control relay R whose armatureincludes normally-open switches R-1 and R-2 and normally closed switchR-3; and a motor field coil in parallel with a rectifier 115, aresistance 116, and a condenser 117. A lead 118 connects switch R-3 withthe condenser 117 as shown.

As soon as the knob micro 112 has been closed by proper manipulation ofthe dating knob 110, and the card micro 72 has been closed by properinsertion of a book card 70, the relay coil R becomes energized. Thiscloses switches R-1 and R2 and opens switch R-3. The closing of switchesR-1 and R-2 energizes the motor field coil as a result of which themotor starts to move. This immediately results in closing of the motormicro 104 (FIG. 10) which, in conjunction with switch R-l, locks in therelay R. Thus the relay R remains energized even though the knob micro112 or the card micro 72, or both, may re-open. As a result of the motoroperation the mechanism hereinbefore described performs its functions,viz., the printing head descends and rises again, and near the end ofthis operation the end section of tape 51 is advanced into readiness forthe next cycle.

During the operation of the motor, the condenser 117 becomes charged,and when the drive shaft 46 reaches its home position (FIG. 9) the motormicro 104 is opened to break the circuit through relay coil R. Thisimmediately re-opens switches R-1 and R-2 and closes switch R3. Throughconnection 118 and switch R-3 the condenser 117 discharges through themotor field coil, as a result of which the motor is instantaneouslylocked, electrically, against further movement. The effect of this is tolimit the motor operation accurately to one complete cycle of operation,without over-ride. The parts are then in readiness for the nexttransaction. Duration of the complete cycle is less than of a second.

In case of power failure a handle 119 on shaft 36, located on theoutside of supporting wall 32, can be manipulated to rock the shaft 36through a complete cycle. In such a case, a clutch or its equivalent(not shown) is first operated to disconnect the shaft 36 from thelinkage normally connecting it to the motor.

The details of the operation may be altered in various ways withoutaffecting the basic nature of the steps which the apparatus performs.For example, while the tape advance has been described as occurringduring the final period of a printing cycle, it might with. equaleffectiveness be caused to take place in the initial period of anoperating cycle, i.e., just before the printing action. In the formercase, as herein described, the rest position of the parts is reachedafter the printing head has risen to its full extent, or has even begunits descent. In the alternative case, the rest position would be assumedprior to the time the printing head has risen to its fullest extent.Thus, at the commencement of each cycle of operation the tape advancewould occur as a first step, while the printing head is completing itsrise. These alternatives are readily achieved by merely shifting thelocation of the actuator 102 on the motor-driven shaft 45, thuscorrespondingly shifting the position at which the parts are halted atthe conclusion of each operation. Similarly, the circuitry may bealtered without affecting any basic change, by arranging parts invarious ways so that, for example, switches herein described as beingnormally open or normally closed would operate in reverse fashion.

So far as the relative movements of the printing head and platen areconcerned, the important operation consists, of course, in bringing themtogether, with the strip to be printed lying between them, and inseparating them after the printing and pressure application have beencompleted. This can be achieved as shown in the apparatus herein chosenfor illustration, by moving the printing head toward and away from theplaten, but under certain circumstances both of these elements may move,or the head may remain stationary while the platen moves toward and awayfrom it. Moreover, while electrical or other power is preferred, anoperation of the apparatus by hand-applied power (or by foot) can beresorted to if desired.

The advantages of the invention, in addition to those previouslymentioned, are as follows: It is unnecessary to have a number of datedue files, hence locating a book card in the single master file isgreatly simplified. Book cards are never consumed, and therefore thetask of preparing replacement cards is minimized. It is unnecessary tocheck registration files when sending out overdue notices, sincecomplete information is on the book card. It is not even necessary totype the overdue notice since the book cards lend themselves toinexpensive copying procedures. Moreover, because of the date due tabsapplied to the books when they are charged out, it is not necessary toprovide special date due" cards, and the task of dating such cards iseliminated. Coupled with these economies and simplifications is thebasic advantage that the library knows at all times exactly whichborrower has a given title.

In general, it is to be understood that many of the mechanical andelectrical details herein disclosed may be modified by those skilled inthe art Without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as eX- pressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for handling book-borrowing transactions, a printinghead and platen mounted for relative movement toward and away from eachother to define a printing stroke as they come together and a returnstroke as they move apart, a supply of adhesive-coated imprintablematerial and means for interposing successive bands thereof between saidprinting head and platen with the adhesive side facing the platen, aholder on said printing head for temporarily accommodating a borrowercard bearing data transferrab-le to said band during the printingoperation, a dating mechanism carried by said printing head adapted toimprint a selected due-date designation upon said band, and means foraccommodating a book card on the platen beneath said band so that thelatter is pressed into adhesive contact with said card during theprinting operation.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the supply of materialis in the form of continuous tape, there being a means for advancing thetape in a longitudinal direction by a predetermined increment duringeach return stroke of the printing operation.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the printing movementsare controlled by a motor and an electric circuit therefor, and anormally open switch in said circuit adapted to be closed by a book cardas the latter is moved to band-receiving position.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said dating mechanismis movable between an operative and an inoperative position, and whereinsaid printing movements are controlled by a motor, an electric circuittherefore, and a normally open switch in said circuit adapted to beclosed when said dating mechanism is moved to operative position priorto the printing stroke.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, coupled with a means forautomatically restoring said dating mechanism to inoperative positionduring the completion of the printing stroke.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, including another normally openswitch in said circuit adapted to be closed by a book card as the latteris moved to bandre-ceiving position.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the printing movementsare controlled by a motor and an electric circuit therefor, and meansfor automatically bringing the motor to a dead stop accurately uponcompletion of each cycle of operation.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7, said stopping means comprisinga rectifier and condenser in parallel with a field coil of the motor, acircuit for energizing the field coil and charging the condenser throughsaid rectifier, and means operable upon completion of said cycle forinterrupting the energization of the field coil and connecting thecondenser so as to discharge through said field coil to halt the motorinstantaneously.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said borrower cardholder includes a spot marker movable to any selected one of a series ofdifferent positions adapted to provide significant indicia on the bookcard itself in corresponding locations.

10. In an apparatus for handling book-borrowing transactions, a printinghead and platen, driving means for moving the printing head through aprinting stroke and a return stroke relative to the platen, means forsupporting a roll of continuous adhesive-coated imprintable tape, meansfor guiding the tape beneath the printing head with the adhesive sidefacing the platen, tape-advancing means, mechanism for actuating saidtape-advancing means during each return stroke of the printing head, aholder on said printing head for temporarily accommodating a borrowercard bearing data transferable to said tape during the printingoperation, means for accommodating a book card on the platen beneathsaid tape so that the latter is pressed into adhesive contact with saidcard during the printing operation, and a cutter carried by the printinghead for severing the printed band of tape from the supply.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein the mechanism foractuating the tape-advancing means is coupled to said driving means andoperated in timed relation thereto.

No references cited.

EARL M. BERGERT, Primary Examiner.

W. E. HOAG, Assistant Examiner.

1.IN AN APPARATUS FOR HANDLING BOOK-BORROWING TRANSACTIONS, A PRINTINGHEAD AND PLATEN MOUNTED FOR RELATIVE MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACHOTHER TO DEFINE A PRINTING STROKE AS THEY COME TOGETHER AND A RETURNSTROKE AS THEY MOVE APART, A SUPPLY OF ADHESIVE-COATED IMPRINTABLEMATERIAL AND MEANS FOR INTERPOSING SUCCESSIVE BANDS THEREOF BETWEEN SAIDPRINTING HEAD AND PLATEN WITH THE ADHESIVE SIDE FACING THE PLATEN, AHOLDER ON SAID PRINTING HEAD FOR TEMPORARILY ACCOMMODATING A BORROWERCARD BEARING DATA TRANSFERRABLE TO SAID BAND DURING THE PRINTING